Conor Pope, Consumer Journalist

Saturday 10th October 2009
Tips on how you can save up to €2,000 a year:

1. Keep a diary of how much you are spending on a weekly basis.
You can then see clearly where you can cut-back.
2. Shop around, shop around, shop around!
3. Switch your health insurance from the dearest (VHI) to the cheapest (Hibernian Aviva) - savings = €200 to €900pa
4. Switch banks, even though people are reluctant to do it (e.g a 10% difference in credit card interest rates between the dearest (Ulster Bank) and the cheapest (AIB)). Savings = €500pa
5. Split supermarket shopping between Aldi/Lidl, one of the main supermarket chains & your local shops. Savings = €1,200pa. Sites like www.cheapeats.ie and www.smartshopper.ie help too.
6. Are you on the best phone package? Check out www.callcost.ie for the best deals & info on free minutes/texts. Savings = €150pa
7. Maybe switch your energy supplier? Bord Gáis and Airtricity are undercutting the ESB by 10% & 13%. Savings = €120pa
8. Claim back all you're due from the taxman - medical/dental expenses, local authority charges, union dues etc. Check out www.revenue.ie to see what you're entitled to. Savings = €300pa
9. There's a world of free stuff out there looking for a new home - www.dublinwaste.ie, www.jumbletown.ie and www.freecycle.org
10. Have a 'black bin bag' party to swap clothes etc with friends.
11. Always ask your pharmacist for non-branded, generic tablets, which are cheaper and usually just as effective (e.g. non-branded tablets costs upwards of €1 less than alternatives).
12. Shop online for essentials like clothes, furniture, electrical gadgets, books etc. www.ebay.ie and www.amazon.co.uk
13. You could get into home brewing if you're adventurous enough. Ireland has the 4th highest excise duty on beer in Europe and the tax we pay on it is 9 times the EU average. Dodge the tax by making your own beer. Get a good-quality kit (at least €70) which will make 40 pints for €25. www.ibrew.ie

Saturday 20th June 2009
Conor offered some tips for those buying a car in the recession

* car auctions - but move fast because the dealers will want to snap up the best deals

* negotiate, negotiate, negotiate the price if you're buying new -dealers are keen to sell and there are great deals on luxury cars

* buying in the UK - savings of approx 20% to be made & more on the more expensive makes; don't buy unless you really want to; never look at just one car; bring a friend/advisor; compare dealer & online prices; know the car you want in advance and work out the cost of the change

* shop around online - sites like www.carzone.ie or even on eBay

* amazing deals on well-known makes of cars - up to €3,000 off some Toyota models; Ford 'Focus' scrappage deal of €3,000; Hyundai 'Santa Fe' down by €7,000; up to €10,000 off Chrysler 'Sebring''; Lidl in Germany selling Opel 'Corsa' for under €11,000

Saturday 28th February 2009
Conor talked about the reductions to come in the Irish energy marketplace. For full details about changing your energy supplier, log onto either www.thebigswitch.ie or www.airtricity.com

Saturday 10th November 2007
Conor offered some tips for consumers when buying online:

- only use well-known retailers or websites
- if using auction sites (like eBay) never send cheques or wire transfer and never send your credit card number via email
- Google the companies you're doing business with to check for negative feedback from previous customers
- ensure companies offer more than just email contact

when buying online remember
- online purchases are liable for import charges and VAT for goods bought outside the EU (expect to pay around 30% more)
- if you're shipping to another address make sure your purchases are marked 'gifts' on the envelope to avoid the recipient being hit for tax

when completing a purchase online remember
- get the name & geographical address of the seller
- get step-by-step ordering procedures and a delivery schedule
- the fully inclusive cost of the item, currency & method of payment
- read terms & conditions carefully to find our your rights
- get a confirmation email/receipt for your order

Two good sites for cameras and other electronic equipment are
www.pixmania.com and www.komplett.ie

Saturday 14 October 2006
Conor explained the phone pricing structure in Ireland. He recommended two sites where you can check costs & services in your area - www.callcosts.ie (information on landline, mobile & broadband costs) and www.broadband.gov.ie (information on broadband access in your area)